IT was sad to hear about the passing of Moscow Flyer last Friday. All his achievements have been well documented over the course of the last seven or eight days: his 13 Grade 1 wins, his Arkle, his two Champion Chases, his two Tingle Creeks.

When you work with the trainer in the writing of a book about a racehorse, you feel like you have a special affinity with that racehorse, but every racing fan felt like he or she had an affinity with Moscow Flyer. He was a character, he had personality.

As well as that, he was an extraordinary National Hunt racehorse.

He was fast, faster than he appeared, because he only did what he had to do. And he was a superb jumper of his fences. But he lived on the edge, which is why there are F’s and U’s on his record.

MOSCOW’S TEAM

He was brilliantly trained by Jessica Harrington, expertly cared for by Eamonn Leigh and, in owner Brian Kearney, Moscow had a man who was fully deserving of him and who truly appreciated the places to which his horse brought him.

Moscow was brilliant for Barry Geraghty, and Barry Geraghty was brilliant for Moscow. The jockey was just 19 or 20 at the time, an up-and-coming young rider who needed a horse to take him to the top. Moscow needed a like-minded individual who would be as brave as he was. Together, they conquered the world.

Barry rode Moscow in 38 of his 40 races over hurdles and fences, and he rode him to 25 of his 26 wins, including those 13 Grade 1 wins, those Champion Chases, those Tingle Creeks, that Tingle Creek against Azertyuiop and Well Chief.

Famously, Moscow never won a bumper. Four attempts, no wins. It was his jumping that got him to the top. Even over hurdles. Charlie Swan said that he was the only horse that he feared when he rode Istabraq.

Moscow’s back story is fascinating too. He was the first horse that breeder Eddie Joyce ever sold at public auction. If the breeder hadn’t taken him to the 1998 Derby Sale, it is unlikely that Johnny and Jessica Harrington would have bought him.

Indeed, even at the sale, Johnny was out-bid on two other horses for Brian Kearney. If they had bought either, they wouldn’t have bought the Moscow Society gelding out of the Duky mare Meelick Lady.

And they wouldn’t even have seen the horse had Jim Mernagh – who had prepared the horse for the sale for Eddie Joyce – not badgered Johnny Harrington about the horse, continually telling him that he needed to see him. Fortunately, Johnny really liked him when he saw him.

Moscow may have achieved all that he achieved had he not been owned by Brian Kearney or trained by Jessica Harrington or ridden by Barry Geraghty, but he may not have. He certainly couldn’t have achieved any more.